![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
This is kind of a repost, hope to keep discussion going:
I'd hate to say how much my work (writing, sometimes painting) depends on the right meds in the right balance. Have worked at therapy many years, just as ardently pursued the biochemicaland spiritual as well.
And it all, consistently, comes down to meds. While I was on Zyprexa, first 6 months of this year, I finished my novel, got an editor, could work regularly for the FIRST time. A
And since I went off it. . .God, I don't want to discourage anybody, but this is my truth, one person's situation. . .the MS has been lying here a few hours of revision, literally, short of going to my agent. My initative is gone.
Similarly, I lost interest in painting when I started on Neurtontin two years ago. The fire went out.
I'm not helpless. I am ill, and still struggling to put together a med package that works. . .for the umpteenth time. Further complicated by the fact that part of my dx is ALSO where the wonderful writing comes from! When I'm in a seizurey state (TLE) I am in The Flow! Writing is effortless!
Curing my "creative madness" just isn't in the cards. It would be the same as dead.
Much amiguity, and in the end, we have to chart our own course.
Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writer
Posted by SLS on August 28, 2001, at 16:01:25
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
> Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writerYou tickle me.
:-)
Posted by susan C on August 28, 2001, at 16:35:28
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
Yo! Zo! Have you been peaking in my windows? Somedays it is just saying, "pick one thing to do at a time" 'think of resiliance'
What challenges we face, us creative ones, us intelligent ones, I summarized it for a good friend, very good friend the other day, I am very glad, when it comes right down to it, that I am in a secure place, with a family that loves me. Everything else changes. Sometimes, like you describe, everything comes together, then, sometimes everything STOPs (STOP inthename of love....dumb ti dum) She said, knowingly, you are coping...it was several years that way with her son...ramble ramble mutter mutter...Now my question and pondering: How can you know when something works? Can you say, is it good enough to say, I did this one thing today, and that is ok, even though xxx months ago I was top in my field (outstanding in my field) and now have trouble putting two sentences together?
BTW, what is, if I may ask, what your book is about?
Susan C. alias Mighty Mouse, Mood swings, depression, Mixed manic episodes, creative episodes, GAD? dizzy, confused, is it illness or meds? dx possible BPII, maybe seizure related, (still trying after all these years...ta dum) On
depakote, ambien, keppra (new one), HRT, vitamins minerals, good food, lots of water, exercise, ya da ya da. I guess if I had found the answer already I wouldn't be hunting for it?
> This is kind of a repost, hope to keep discussion going:
>
> I'd hate to say how much my work (writing, sometimes painting) depends on the right meds in the right balance. Have worked at therapy many years, just as ardently pursued the biochemicaland spiritual as well.
>
> And it all, consistently, comes down to meds. While I was on Zyprexa, first 6 months of this year, I finished my novel, got an editor, could work regularly for the FIRST time. A
>
> And since I went off it. . .God, I don't want to discourage anybody, but this is my truth, one person's situation. . .the MS has been lying here a few hours of revision, literally, short of going to my agent. My initative is gone.
>
> Similarly, I lost interest in painting when I started on Neurtontin two years ago. The fire went out.
>
> I'm not helpless. I am ill, and still struggling to put together a med package that works. . .for the umpteenth time. Further complicated by the fact that part of my dx is ALSO where the wonderful writing comes from! When I'm in a seizurey state (TLE) I am in The Flow! Writing is effortless!
>
> Curing my "creative madness" just isn't in the cards. It would be the same as dead.
>
> Much amiguity, and in the end, we have to chart our own course.
>
> Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writer
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 28, 2001, at 17:33:55
In reply to Re: Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by susan C on August 28, 2001, at 16:35:28
I am very happy for a thread like this and am selfishily posting for a reminder of it, but am too tired to really post now. This has been on my mind a lot lately!! Thus far problems for me.
- KK
Posted by Mitch on August 28, 2001, at 18:34:26
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
Hi Zo,
Could it be possible that you are just in the depressive part of your cycling? I have been in my seasonal summer depression for about eight weeks now. I mood chart and I just counted them off my calendar! :) The behavioural neuro I saw once told me that BP's cycle into depression quite frequently during mid-summer.
Here's another possibility. The atypical AP's antagonize 5-HT2c receptors and so does Remeron. I noticed a mild hypomanic blip on my mood chart about two weeks ago and the only thing unusual was I took about 7.5mg of Remeron to help get to sleep on a Sat. nite and my chart shows a definite elevation, NOT on the following two days, but DEFINITELY for the THREE days following that (the 3rd, 4th, and 5th days after the dose). Maybe a positive rebound withdrawal?? I got hypomanic when Seroquel wore off the following afternoon.
Mitch
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 28, 2001, at 21:11:10
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
Clare, Anthony W.. Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament. British Journal of Psychiatry. 171(10):395, Oct 97
"It was Lord Byron who observed that "addiction to poetry is generally the result of an uneasy mind in an uneasy body. Disease or deformity have haunted many of our best; Collins, mad; Pope, crooked; Milton, blind". He knew what he was talking about. A profound and pervasive melancholia, singular mental instability and suicide seamed through both the Scottish and English sides of his family. As a child he was fiery, passionate and depressed. As he grew older these aspects of his temperament became more marked, his volatility and `savage moods' more severe and his desire for death more stated. He became markedly insightful, once noting that "There are some natures that have a predisposition to grief as others have to disease... The causes that have made me wretched would probably not have decomposed, or at least more than decomposed another". Byron, that most romantic of the Romantics, embodies the two key and central arguments of this powerful and compelling book, namely that there is a highly significant association between two temperaments - the artistic and the manic-depressive - and that the variability and fluxes of mood are important in igniting thought, changing perceptions, creating chaos, forcing order on that chaos and enabling transformation.
There have been many case history studies of the psychopathology of artists including those by Cesare Lombroso, Francis Galton, Havelock Ellis, Adele Juda, Arnold Ludwig, Nancy Andreasen, Hagop Akiskal and Felix Post. Kay Jamison's analysis is, however, the most extensive, scrupulous and ultimately the most convincing argument yet in favour of the hypothesis that the relationship between manic-depression and creativity is greater than chance. In support of that argument, she draws attention to the creative importance of certain types of experience whose existence is due to extreme emotional states. She draws on what is known of the genetic basis of manic-depression and examines the rich psychiatric histories or pedigrees of several major literary and artistic families including those of Byron, Tennyson, Melville, the Jameses, Schumann, Coleridge, Hemingway and Virginia Woolf. There is the usual list of poets, writers, composers and artists believed to have been mood-disordered but Jamison, on the basis of an impressive understanding of available biographical information, goes further and applies contemporary diagnostic classificatory frames to what is known of their mental states, and indicates where hospitalisation, suicide attempts and suicide were in the mix. The result, in an appendix at the end of the book, is a truly awesome league, which includes Berryman, Clare, Cowper, Eliot, Jarrell, Millais, Pasternak, Plath, Pound, Sexton, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Hesse, Lamb, Lowry, Munch, O'Neill, Ruskin, Williams, Woolf, Schumann, Van Gogh, Bruckner, O'Keefe, Pollock, Celan, Crane, Poe, Conrad, Gorky, Berlioz, Wollstonecraft, Borromini, Gauguin and Rothko.
Graham Greene argued that creativity is itself an antidepressant and wondered "how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in the human situation". Jamison refrains from such Romantic gloom and acknowledges the more prosaic fact that many writers and artists have no family or personal history of manic-depression. She does not argue that all writers are depressed, suicidal or manic. She argues rather that a greatly disproportionate number of them are; that the manic-depressive and artistic temperaments are causally related to each other."
-------------------------------------------------
MISSION STATEMENT
"The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination."
Posted by v on August 30, 2001, at 8:03:42
In reply to Re: Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by susan C on August 28, 2001, at 16:35:28
to susan - what is keppa?
to the rest of us, i couldn't be happier for this thread (and that is one rare condition inside us these days)... like another, i am too tired to go into it... feel like shit... just upped some of my meds so i may need to adjust...
PTSD, DID, ADD, BPII (although different pdocs give different diagnoses on that one) - just plain depressed, abuse-survivor, gifted... v
"those who hear not the music... think the dancers mad"
> Yo! Zo! Have you been peaking in my windows? Somedays it is just saying, "pick one thing to do at a time" 'think of resiliance'
> What challenges we face, us creative ones, us intelligent ones, I summarized it for a good friend, very good friend the other day, I am very glad, when it comes right down to it, that I am in a secure place, with a family that loves me. Everything else changes. Sometimes, like you describe, everything comes together, then, sometimes everything STOPs (STOP inthename of love....dumb ti dum) She said, knowingly, you are coping...it was several years that way with her son...ramble ramble mutter mutter...
>
> Now my question and pondering: How can you know when something works? Can you say, is it good enough to say, I did this one thing today, and that is ok, even though xxx months ago I was top in my field (outstanding in my field) and now have trouble putting two sentences together?
>
> BTW, what is, if I may ask, what your book is about?
>
> Susan C. alias Mighty Mouse, Mood swings, depression, Mixed manic episodes, creative episodes, GAD? dizzy, confused, is it illness or meds? dx possible BPII, maybe seizure related, (still trying after all these years...ta dum) On
> depakote, ambien, keppra (new one), HRT, vitamins minerals, good food, lots of water, exercise, ya da ya da. I guess if I had found the answer already I wouldn't be hunting for it?
>
>
> > This is kind of a repost, hope to keep discussion going:
> >
> > I'd hate to say how much my work (writing, sometimes painting) depends on the right meds in the right balance. Have worked at therapy many years, just as ardently pursued the biochemicaland spiritual as well.
> >
> > And it all, consistently, comes down to meds. While I was on Zyprexa, first 6 months of this year, I finished my novel, got an editor, could work regularly for the FIRST time. A
> >
> > And since I went off it. . .God, I don't want to discourage anybody, but this is my truth, one person's situation. . .the MS has been lying here a few hours of revision, literally, short of going to my agent. My initative is gone.
> >
> > Similarly, I lost interest in painting when I started on Neurtontin two years ago. The fire went out.
> >
> > I'm not helpless. I am ill, and still struggling to put together a med package that works. . .for the umpteenth time. Further complicated by the fact that part of my dx is ALSO where the wonderful writing comes from! When I'm in a seizurey state (TLE) I am in The Flow! Writing is effortless!
> >
> > Curing my "creative madness" just isn't in the cards. It would be the same as dead.
> >
> > Much amiguity, and in the end, we have to chart our own course.
> >
> > Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writer
Posted by susan C on August 30, 2001, at 10:42:48
In reply to Re: Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by v on August 30, 2001, at 8:03:42
> to susan - what is keppa?
FYI Keppra (levetiracetam) a relatively new antiseizure med tested in Europe recently approved by FDA, used (off lable) for mood disorders with some success. Some studies going on.
Susan C.
> to the rest of us, i couldn't be happier for this thread (and that is one rare condition inside us these days)... like another, i am too tired to go into it... feel like shit... just upped some of my meds so i may need to adjust...
>
> PTSD, DID, ADD, BPII (although different pdocs give different diagnoses on that one) - just plain depressed, abuse-survivor, gifted... v
>
> "those who hear not the music... think the dancers mad"
>
>
> > Yo! Zo! Have you been peaking in my windows? Somedays it is just saying, "pick one thing to do at a time" 'think of resiliance'
> > What challenges we face, us creative ones, us intelligent ones, I summarized it for a good friend, very good friend the other day, I am very glad, when it comes right down to it, that I am in a secure place, with a family that loves me. Everything else changes. Sometimes, like you describe, everything comes together, then, sometimes everything STOPs (STOP inthename of love....dumb ti dum) She said, knowingly, you are coping...it was several years that way with her son...ramble ramble mutter mutter...
> >
> > Now my question and pondering: How can you know when something works? Can you say, is it good enough to say, I did this one thing today, and that is ok, even though xxx months ago I was top in my field (outstanding in my field) and now have trouble putting two sentences together?
> >
> > BTW, what is, if I may ask, what your book is about?
> >
> > Susan C. alias Mighty Mouse, Mood swings, depression, Mixed manic episodes, creative episodes, GAD? dizzy, confused, is it illness or meds? dx possible BPII, maybe seizure related, (still trying after all these years...ta dum) On
> > depakote, ambien, keppra (new one), HRT, vitamins minerals, good food, lots of water, exercise, ya da ya da. I guess if I had found the answer already I wouldn't be hunting for it?
> >
> >
> > > This is kind of a repost, hope to keep discussion going:
> > >
> > > I'd hate to say how much my work (writing, sometimes painting) depends on the right meds in the right balance. Have worked at therapy many years, just as ardently pursued the biochemicaland spiritual as well.
> > >
> > > And it all, consistently, comes down to meds. While I was on Zyprexa, first 6 months of this year, I finished my novel, got an editor, could work regularly for the FIRST time. A
> > >
> > > And since I went off it. . .God, I don't want to discourage anybody, but this is my truth, one person's situation. . .the MS has been lying here a few hours of revision, literally, short of going to my agent. My initative is gone.
> > >
> > > Similarly, I lost interest in painting when I started on Neurtontin two years ago. The fire went out.
> > >
> > > I'm not helpless. I am ill, and still struggling to put together a med package that works. . .for the umpteenth time. Further complicated by the fact that part of my dx is ALSO where the wonderful writing comes from! When I'm in a seizurey state (TLE) I am in The Flow! Writing is effortless!
> > >
> > > Curing my "creative madness" just isn't in the cards. It would be the same as dead.
> > >
> > > Much amiguity, and in the end, we have to chart our own course.
> > >
> > > Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writer
Posted by JAMMER on August 30, 2001, at 13:41:59
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
> This is kind of a repost, hope to keep discussion going:
>
> I'd hate to say how much my work (writing, sometimes painting) depends on the right meds in the right balance. Have worked at therapy many years, just as ardently pursued the biochemicaland spiritual as well.
>
> And it all, consistently, comes down to meds. While I was on Zyprexa, first 6 months of this year, I finished my novel, got an editor, could work regularly for the FIRST time. A
>
> And since I went off it. . .God, I don't want to discourage anybody, but this is my truth, one person's situation. . .the MS has been lying here a few hours of revision, literally, short of going to my agent. My initative is gone.
>
> Similarly, I lost interest in painting when I started on Neurtontin two years ago. The fire went out.
>
> I'm not helpless. I am ill, and still struggling to put together a med package that works. . .for the umpteenth time. Further complicated by the fact that part of my dx is ALSO where the wonderful writing comes from! When I'm in a seizurey state (TLE) I am in The Flow! Writing is effortless!
>
> Curing my "creative madness" just isn't in the cards. It would be the same as dead.
>
> Much amiguity, and in the end, we have to chart our own course.
>
> Zo - BPII, TLE, ADD, CFS/FM, abuse-survivor, funny as hell writer
Depakote which I'm taking now after finally being diag'd with bi-polar, has allowed my creativity to explode, without the crazies or out of bounds energy disruptions. Madness and creativity can be one in the same, if its channeled properly.
-James
Posted by Zo on August 31, 2001, at 16:33:43
In reply to Re: Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by JAMMER on August 30, 2001, at 13:41:59
Okay, score one for BP and Depakote!
What other meds are you on, James?Great responses, everybody. Feeling alone with this is the pits. Being an artist/writer with a chemical imbalance is a special, sucky pain.
Let's list what helps us do our work, or what we're trying.
Add your dx and other meds.Thanks!
Zo
> Depakote which I'm taking now after finally being diag'd with bi-polar, has allowed my creativity to explode, without the crazies or out of bounds energy disruptions. Madness and creativity can be one in the same, if its channeled properly.
> -James
Posted by Zo on August 31, 2001, at 16:50:29
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
Posted by Zo on August 31, 2001, at 16:51:39
In reply to Creative Work and Meds - Problems? Success?, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:36:12
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.